- India says Russian oil imports continue, rejects need for “permission” after US waiver
SRINAGAR, Mar 7: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the United States issuing a temporary waiver that allows Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian oil, saying India must take decisions on its own and should not appear dependent on any external power.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the issue goes beyond energy purchases and touches the core of India’s independence and strategic autonomy. “We are not dependent. The tragedy is I do not know why they are making us dependent. It is a question of the independence of this country,” he said, asserting that the country must decide what is good for it and “nobody else should decide its future.”
Referring to past instances of foreign pressure, the NC chief recalled how, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the United States had sought to influence India’s stance at international forums by linking it to the nuclear deal. Abdullah said Singh had maintained that India would make its own decisions based on national interest, and argued that the same principle must guide the country today as well.
The remarks came as the broader discussion around the US waiver gained traction amid volatile global energy conditions. Reports indicate the waiver is for 30 days and was framed by Washington as a short-term step linked to supply disruptions and price stability concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
India, meanwhile, has reiterated that it will continue importing Russian oil and does not require any country’s permission to decide its energy sourcing, even as the waiver reduces obstacles for ongoing purchases.